The two had been working together on what Thierry's describes as more of an "adhoc" basis than a full agency service.

Bernard Magrez told harpers.co.uk: "We have, earlier on this month, agreed with Thierry 's to stop our collaboration and we are now actively looking for a new off-trade agent in the UK. France still sells more wine in Britain by value that anyone else and Britain remains one of our biggest export market. Contrary to popular beliefs, in the £5 - £15 bracket France is doing well and catching up with Australia.

"The particularity of the Bernard Magrez signature is that we are not only producing Bordeaux wines but also wines at different levels of prices for different needs from Languedoc , Spain , Portugal , Chile , Argentina and Japan."

He added: "We have done some market research in London, New York, Japon, Bruxel over the past five years and we have realised that wine lovers need to be confident whith the brand they buy. With the Bernard Magrez signature, they can taste wines from many different areas from France and different countries but all recognisable under one strip -label and of course extremely good quality."

Magrez is handled in the on-trade by Sommelier's Friend and Harrison Vintners.

"We are very confident we will find a new off-trade agent soon," added Magrez.